Many of us consume several cups of tea or coffee daily. Someone considers himself to be lovers of a fragrant coffee drink, while someone considers himself a connoisseur of the tea ceremony. However, not all of us know how to make Chinese tea so that it does not lose its beneficial properties and vitamins.
In this article, we will tell you about the origin of the tea ceremony, provide interesting facts and introduce you to a variety of Chinese tea. Currently, such a drink is found on the shelves of any supermarkets, in specialized shops, and someone gets tea in the form of a gift from abroad.
Origin history
According to the Chinese, green tea is better than wine, because it invigorates, amuses and does not transmit infections. The very history of the origin of this drink has its roots in ancient times. Legend has it that a shepherd noticed more than a thousand years ago that his goats had become more mobile and frisky. Having spent several days observing his domestic animals, the man came to the conclusion that it is the shoots of one plant that give such an effect. Gathering his courage, the shepherd tore the leaves from this plant, washed them under water and poured boiling water. As a result, he received a fragrant, strong and nutritious drink.
In the early years of using tea leaves, the Chinese did not subject them to any heat treatment. And only after a few hundred years, the inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom came up with the idea to dry and fry the leaves. At the court of the emperor, famous masters competed with each other for the right to be closer to their ruler. For months, they experimented with tea, adding new, previously unknown ingredients that had not been tested by anyone. Anyone who managed to surprise the emperor was rightfully considered a master of his craft and was generously rewarded.
Many craftsmen were racking their brains about how to brew Chinese green tea. And only after some time, the inhabitants of this beautiful country came to a consensus.
Popularization of tea in our region
Only after hundreds of years, Chinese tea began to be widely used in Korea, India and Central Asia.
In 1584, in Europe, they learned about the existence of this drink, which won the hearts of many and gained wide popularity among the nobility and royal associates. In Russia, tea appeared in 1618 and became an everyday drink among rich and high-ranking individuals.
Over time, the use of green tea has undergone some changes. After Russia included such peoples as the Bashkirs, Altai, Kalmyks and Tatars, the majority of the population switched to drinking tea with milk. It is worth noting that in most cases, residents of Russia preferred black tea, which is less useful, but the situation changed when scarce goods from China began to be brought to our country.
Beneficial features
Due to its composition, green tea has a beneficial effect on the human body and enriches it with useful minerals and vitamins. Since tonic caffeine is not present in its pure form in the drink, but is mixed with tannin, we get a charge of energy and energy without damage to our health.
So, the main useful qualities of a fragrant drink come from the Middle Kingdom:
- theophylline, which is in the composition, has an effect on the rapid and complete saturation of blood with oxygen;
- contains vitamins A, C, E, P and B, valuable amino acids and enzymes in its composition;
- helps to reduce excess weight;
- normalizes the gastrointestinal tract;
- prevents the formation of prolonged constipation;
- gives a charge of vivacity;
- is a means of preventing urolithiasis;
- supports the body in good shape.
Green tea literally flushes cholesterol from blood vessels, preventing them from narrowing. In addition, this drink restores the strength and elasticity of the vascular walls and helps to normalize the pressure. That is why many doctors advise older people to include green tea in their diet, limiting caffeine intake.
Interesting Tea Making Facts
Before you go to the kitchen and brew Chinese tea, we advise you to read about the features of this procedure.
Firstly, ideally, the water should not boil. Tea ceremony connoisseurs advise using water with a temperature of 65 to 85 degrees. Before the kettle begins to actively make noise and the first bubbles run from the bottom, it must be turned off. In this way, you will retain oxygen in the water, and tea will become more healthy.
Secondly, you should pay attention to the brewing time. Cheaper varieties of Chinese tea are brewed for about 3-4 minutes, while the elite are 2 minutes maximum.
And lastly, we will talk about the brewing process itself. As a rule, it is customary to drain the first tea leaves, so you wash the tea leaves. Good tea can withstand 5-6 subsequent brews, and cheap tea 2-3 times.
How to make Chinese tea?
In this section, we will talk about the proper use of an invigorating and aromatic drink. Not many people know how to brew Chinese Puer tea. In addition, there are doubts about the usefulness of this drink.
Unfortunately, some people believe that puer is a drug that has a negative effect on the body. However, this is all myth and fiction. Chinese tea gives a boost of vigor and energy, but it does not contain narcotic substances.
Most doctors do not recommend drinking “raw” puerh on an empty stomach. In older people, this can cause discomfort in the abdomen, heartburn, and pain.
So, how to brew Chinese Puer tea:
- it is necessary to use glass or porcelain dishes;
- put a small piece of puer in cold water for 5-10 minutes;
- then drain the excess liquid and pour boiling water;
- wait a couple of minutes - and the aromatic and healthy drink is ready to drink.
Some tea connoisseurs advise you to rinse Puer several times before pouring it with hot water. However, this is not so necessary.
Puer Tea Features
The main differences of this drink include the following factors:
- beneficial effect on the chemical composition of blood;
- lower cholesterol and glucose;
- diabetes prevention;
- prevention of atherosclerosis;
- effect on the central nervous system of a person.
In addition, tea helps to cope with food poisoning, helps to digest fatty foods faster and quenches thirst.
Types of Pressed Tea
We have already talked about how to brew Chinese pressed tea, and now we will move on to the variety of this variety.
Black tiled and green brick tea are mainly produced in the form of a press. Pressed puer is considered to be the most popular.
It is worth noting the fact that green brick tea is not divided into varieties and differs from other products in its low content of caffeine and tannin.
Black tea tea is usually divided into four main types:
- first;
- second;
- third;
- higher.
Also on the packaging, in addition to the variety, the country of origin should be indicated. You can distinguish varieties by type of packaging. In most cases, the lower grades are sold in sub-parchment, and the higher grades in label paper.
How to make Chinese tea for one person? For convenient use and quick brewing came up with tableted tea. This is a kind of tea disk weighing up to 5 grams, which is designed for one brewing. If brick and tiled tea is a concentrated drink with a pronounced taste and aroma, then the tablet variety is distinguished only by convenience and ease of use. It is no worse than other types of Chinese tea, it just has a peculiar shape and does not brew more than once.
How to make Chinese tea in balls?
Bound tea belongs to the elite varieties and therefore is quite expensive. In addition, such a variety of Chinese tea is not sold in all stores; it is very difficult to find it. But if you became the proud owner of this product, we will tell you how to brew Chinese green tea.
The main feature of this variety is its taste and the high quality of the raw materials used. If you follow the instructions and do everything correctly, you can enjoy the beautiful sight of a flower blooming in a teapot.
Basic Rules
After you have decided on the dishes and the grade of tea, we will move on to the next step.
How to brew Chinese green tea:
- since this product is also intended for aesthetic pleasure, we will use transparent dishes;
- unlike the usual methods of brewing tea, this variety must not be poured with boiling water, but, on the contrary, placed in hot water already poured into the teapot;
- before adding water to the teapot, it is poured with boiling water (this is necessary so that the figure sank to the bottom and takes the right position);
- after the brewware is ready, pour boiling water and drop the Chinese tea in balls;
- wait a couple of minutes and pour tea into glasses.
It is worth noting that not all varieties can be brewed several times. Best of all, before buying this or that product, check with the seller how many times you can brew this tea. An interesting fact is that with each subsequent brewing, it is necessary to increase the infusion time by 4-5 minutes.
So, how to brew and drink Chinese tea, you already know, now you need to determine the variety, purchase it and enjoy a warm and aromatic drink.